viriditas Latin · revision 36794

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=la viridis}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''viriditās''' ''f'' (genitive viriditātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|viridis|-tās|t1=green]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) of the green of plants: ''quid dē prātōrum viriditāte plūra dīcam?'', “why should I say more about the greenness of meadows?”^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Besides the green of growing plants and green vegetation itself, it is used of other things, such as the green of the sea, which certain beryls imitate in Pliny the Elder.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero also used it figuratively for youthful freshness and vigour, which old age takes away, and of a laurel losing its green.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

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+ British Medieval Latin used it for verdure and green foliage, for the unripeness of crops, for vitality and freshness, also spiritual, and for the colour green.^(DMLBS)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the green of meadows and of youthful vigour.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of the green of the sea.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1241 – An English court record uses it of crops left unharvested because they were unripe.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The fresh green colour of plants, [[m|en|greenness]]; green vegetation, [[m|en|verdure]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Greenness of other things, such as the sea.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Youthful liveliness, freshness, [[m|en|vigour]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Unripeness of crops.^(DMLBS)

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|viridity]]

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}